An Inspiring PSA Encourages Young Girls to Believe They Can Run for Office

Amy Poehler's 'Smart Girls' Group Backs Campaign

By Alexandra Jardine.Published on Sep 20, 2016

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A new PSA from Ignite, a non-partisan organization that encourages women's political ambition, helps young women to believe they can run for elected office with a little girl making a speech in front of the U.S. flag. Amy Poehler's "Smart Girls," an orgnanization dedicated to helping foster a more positive internet community for girls, also helped produce the campaign.

Directed by Meena Singh for creative agency Pereira & O'Dell, the spot starts off with the girl stating: "I want to be President...but when I'm 13, I won't any more." She goes on to list the reasons why: She'll be accused of being bossy, told to be a good girl, and will never be told that she belongs in elected office. It ends with a reminder that while women make up 51% of the population, they only hold 22% of elected offices, and encourages viewers to help girls declare their ambition.

Ignite is asking people to go to its website and for 140,000 people (the number of women needed in elected office at all levels to reach political parity) to take this pledge: "I intend to run for office or encourage another young woman to run."